Tent pole



V. M. EBBS.

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Be it known that I, VERNON M. EBBS a citizen of the United States, residing at Corcoran, in the county of Kings and State of. California, have invented a new and useful Tent Pole, of which the following is a specification.

i This invention relates to improvements in tent poles, and has for its objects, the provision of poles of this character which are foldable and collapsible for packing into a. limited space when not in use, and for purposes of transportation.

The invention involves, primarily, the combination of foldable and telescoping elements, adapted, when set up in the extended position, to constitute the support for the walls of a tent, and further involves the combination of upright standards and ridgepole elements, foldable and collapsible into a compact form, as hereinafter described.

The invention involves various other features concerning the structure and arrangement of parts, whereby eHective rigidity is attained with a minimum weight of the device.

While simple and efficient means are herein provided for accomplishing the objects of the invention, it is to be understood that the device is not limited to the precise construction shown, but may include within its purview such changes and modifications as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Upon the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tent pole constructed in accordance with my invention, the pole being in open or extended position. Fig. 2 is a side View of the same in folded and collapsed position. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary and detail View of the securing means for the telescoping members. F i 4: is a similar view of a hinge-joint connecting the folding members. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of'a tent with my lmproved pole applied thereto. Fig. 6 is a perspective and detail view of a modified form of construction adapted for wood beams. Fig. 7 is a perspective and detail view of the connecting elements corresponding with the beam connecting elements shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a side view of a pole embodying wooden beams. Fig. 9 is a perspective and detail view of a modified form embodying beams of metal tubing. Fig. 10 is a perspective andsectional detail view of the telescoping and securing means Specification of Letters Patent. Patented F I 21, 19 22.

1920. Serial No. 398,132.

for the tubing beams. Fig. 11 is a perspecf tive and detail 'view of a hinge-joint oonnection adapted for use with wooden beams. Flg. 12 1s a perspectivev and detail view of a wooden beams.

RGIBII'lllg to the drawings, the main beam to corner connecting element for use with 21, in the form shown iniFig's. 1, 2, 3, 4" and" 5, is constructed preferably of angle, or channel 113011, and has a bent portion 22, to form one apex of-the tent when erected for use. To theshort arm 23, is pivotally connected the swinging member24, preferably constructed of channel iron. To the long arm 25, is attached the bar 26, adapted to telescope within the arm 25, and provided with a bent portion 27,forming the short angular arm 28. Members 23 and 24 are connected by a pivot 29, and members28 and 30 are connected by a pivot member 31. The long arm 32, of member 26, is provided with a longitudinal slot 33. A .bolt34, extends through the slot 33 and through the arm 25, of beam 21. A nut 35, threaded on the bolt, clamps the members 25 and 32, together.

The sliding members 36 and 37, are provided with adjustment similar to member 26. Members 21, 24: and 30, are preferably made of channel iron bars, and members 26,

36 and 37, are preferably made of flat bars.-

Members 21 and 26, forming the ridge-pole section of the device, are provided with' holes 38, for securing guy ropes, cables, or

the cloth sections of the tent walls.

In use,'the device is adjusted as shown in Fig. 1. To fold the device so that it.

may be carried conveniently on an automobile, or packed for shipment, themembers 36 and 37 are telescoped within the corresponding adjoining beam members. The

members 21 and 26 are similarly adjusted.

Then the member 30 is folded upon the pivot member 28, to a position adjoining member 21, and member 2a is then folded joining member 30. The device folds into a very compact form; the width and thickness of the members inproportion to their I length, being exaggerated in the drawings. Figs. 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12, show a modified form, in which the beams'are constructed 100 on the pivot member 29, to. a position adsecutive beam sections. A set screw 41, bearing against one of the ribs 39, serves to bind the ends of the beams together. The hinge members 42, serve to connect the swinging beam members.

Figs. 9 and 10, show a modified form in which metal tubing is substituted for the metal channels and flat bars as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. At the pivotal points, the tubes are flattened and connected by pivots 43. The outer telescoping members have slotted ends 44, clamp rings 45, en circling the slotted ends, and thumb-screws, 46, threaded in the ring members and hearing against the outer telescoping members.

From the foregoing description, it may be seen that I have provided a simple and memes eliicient foldable and collapsible tent pole, effective when extended to constitute the supporting standards and ridge-pole elements of a tent.

What is claimed is:

In a collapsible tent-pole, the combination with tubular ridge-pole telescoping sections,

having angularly disposed extremities, of

tubular telescoping sections hingedly connected to the angular arms on the ridgepole sect-ions, said telescoping sections con- 

